One of the things that people on the left do better than the people on the right is messaging. A complete discussion of why this is the case would require a three-volume book. But one great example is “Fair Maps.” We’ve all seen the signs that say, “fair maps” (next to BLM signs of course). The implication is that somehow Wisconsin’s Republican majority is the result of gerrymandered legislative districts. There are a few guidelines that the law requires. The districts need to be equal in population (a small variance is allowed), the districts must be contiguous, and they cannot be drawn to exclude minority representation. Need I remind everyone that the US Supreme Court threw out Gov. Evers maps because they would have eliminated minorities in the inner city from having representation? I’d further note that not even Evers was able to draw maps that gave the democrats any chance at a majority.
Having that said, there could very well be hundreds of thousands of people who think that Wisconsin’s Legislative maps are “gerrymandered” and if they weren’t, the republicans would not have majorities in both houses of the legislature.
State Representative Janel Brandtjen looked at the issue and her case is compelling! The chart below is courtesy of Janel’s office.
*ger·ry·man·der/ˈjerēˌmandər/verb gerund or present participle: gerrymandering-
manipulate the boundaries of (an electoral constituency) to favor one party or class.
achieve (a result) by manipulating the boundaries of an electoral constituency.
“a total freedom to gerrymander the results they want.”
Consider the maps above. In 2016, 59 counties voted for republicans and 13 voted for democrats. Compare the county maps with the results of the assembly elections in 2016. They match up almost perfectly. Are the counties “gerrymandered” as well? The fact of the matter is that people who live in a county that vote for republicans, are represented by republicans and people who live in counties that vote for democrats are represented by democrats. Can maps get any “fairer” than that? The fact is that people have been tricked into believing that we have unfair maps because the left keeps hammering the narrative (gaslighting) while the republican leadership keeps hiding from the issue instead of providing the people of Wisconsin with clear and firm leadership. Whether the topic is ranked choice, the popular vote, or redistricting, the democrats are going to continue to fight tooth and nail for whatever serves their purpose. They don’t like losing. Conservatives don’t like losing either. We won’t cheat and deceive in order to win but we could at least push back on the false narrative. There’s nothing unfair about Wisconsin’s legislative maps.
NOTE – The left has been screaming for “fair maps” well before the 2010 redistricting maps. These maps are from 2016 but let’s remember that the approach the legislature took in 2020 regarding redistricting was a “least change possible” approach while adhering to the three rules mentioned above, population, contiguous, and retain minority representation. Once again, the people who are screaming about “gerrymandering” had their maps thrown out for what? You guessed it! Gerrymandering!
NOTE – The Republican leadership led by Robin Vos told the caucus that if they wrote about “gerrymandering” or publicly spoke about it in anyway, they would be dragged into court. HUH? We fought for photo ID, Conceal and Carry, Act 10 and the Right to Work without being dragged into court. But suddenly we can’t defend fair maps? Another anomaly from Vos’s leadership team. Could it be he was working on a deal that put his Republican detractors in harm’s way? Certainly, HIS district is redder than ever. Hmmm.
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